Korea: Sunday, 22nd December 2024

3 minute read

Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 45 Million

Juvenile maidens with eight of the twelve racing for the first time. We'll side with experience though and (2) WONDERFUL REASON ran a solid 4th on debut before using up a lot of energy to get to the front from a wide draw at start number two on November 17th, ultimately weakening. Third-up and from a much better gate, he is worth another chance. He will dispute the early lead with (8) ROAD TO A SPUR, wo improved to 5th on his second start when racing on-pace. CC climbs up today and he can be in this a long way again. (4) CHAMP HAMSEONG ran a fair 5th on debut at this distance and with some natural improvement can get closer. None of the debut-makers inspired much confidence in trials but (7) IMRO was the best looking and he will have supporters. (12) UGWANGMYEONG also hinted at ability.

Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

(6) HANMADIMALDO was somewhat surprisingly given his chance in the Listed NACF Chairman's Trophy for juveniles in October and he exceeded expectations by running a very solid 6th place, not far away from the placings in a quick time over 1200M. That's more than enough to make him a warm favourite ahead of this limited set of opponents. (4) BEATRIZ is the only one in the field to have placed with two 3rds to her name, both at this trip and she can be the main danger. (5) LUCKY FAMOUS had a poor day at the office from a wide gate last time out but he does have a 4th place on his record and from a good draw can be considered. (8) BLACK RUSSIAN and (2) EAST SKY others who may have a say.

Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 45 Milllion

Juveniles with four of the twelve racing for the first time. (7) ROAD TO ACE ran a good 3rd on a decent time on debut over this distance on November 3rd, settling just behind the speed and running on well. Expect similar tactics here and he won't need to improve much to win this. (12) GLOBAL HIGH similarly ran 3rd on debut over this distance on November 8th, racing handy throughout. He has the challenge of the widest gate here but can be a danger. (5) CHOEGANG TRIPLE was sent off as favourite on his first start on November 22nd having won a trial and while he only managed 4th, he showed enough to suggest he can improve second-up. Among the debut-makers, (6) QUEEN LIRUN looks the most likely to make and immediate impact while (4) FIRST INTENSION may have spelling challenges but improved in the second of two trials and can improve again first-up.

Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

Decent maiden. (4) HAKSAN CAIRO has two 3rd places and a 5th from three starts so far, most recently on his first try at this distance on November 17th when ridden more forward than in his first two outings. He draws nicely here, Moon Se-young rides for the first time, and he is a chance. The betting favourite will be (3) CHEONGSAN JILJU. In five appearances he has never finished any worse than 5th with his latest being his best, when 2ns at this distance in a quick time on November 24th. He was ridden on-pace that day and drawn very well here, will probably be similarly handled, and he can win. (7) RAON NOTHERN DANCE was an improved 3rd at bid odds at start number two on November 16th and with an apprentice keeping his carried weight light, he can be a place threat again. (8) CYCLONE STAR and (1) SEMYEONG STRONG others who can be in the mix.

Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

(5) DUSTIN MARINE was slow away on debut before running on to finish in midfield but at start number two over 1400M on November 24th he went straight to the lead before weakening a little late and ending up 4th. Third-up he can be peaking and form a good draw can be on pace again and slightly back in trip, he can win. He doesn't face an intimidating set of opponents. (3) SUCCESS COW's best was a 5th on debut when posting a good time over 1200M. His subsequent two efforts have only been fair, but he draws better today and can be a danger. (9) WONDERFUL FORTUNE ran a creditable 5th place on debut in October and can improve. (6) BURUI PYEONGHWA and (10) WIDAEHAN YAKSOK other place chances.

Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

(7) WONDERFUL NORTHERN ran 3rd in the Listed Munhwa Ilbo Trophy in September and then got this maiden win at this distance a month later when leading all the way. He then went to Busan for the G2 Breeders' Cup Rookie and ran a fair 7th of sixteen. That takes his resume significantly higher than his rivals here and he will be a short price favourite. (11) RISING MO was a winner on debut at 1000M in August and has since run three times at this level, placing twice. Most recently she was 2nd over 1200M on November 17th and while she is up to this trip for the first time, her running style suggests it can suit. (5) ECLIPSE EDGE is up in Class having got his maiden win at start number three over 1300M on November 23rd. He likes to come from off the pace and should be ready for the step up in trip. (3) HANGANG CAPTAIN and (1) CHEONJI SKY others in the frame.

Busan Race 3: Class 5 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

(4) SWORD MASTER got his maiden win at 1200M in October and was then given his chance in the G2 Breeders' Cup Rookie on November 24th when he was unfortunate enough to draw gate sixteen and never figured. He comes back into more amenable company today, he draws much better and while he comes up to the mile for the first time, he has every chance. It's a good race though. (10) CHOGYEOKCHA will be vying for favourite status. She has made good progress across three starts culminating with her maiden in at 1400M on November 15th when she sat handy for most of the race before going on to score emphatically. She is up in class and in distance but neither should be an issue. (2) ARION TAEYANG is yet to win but beat three a couple of these when 5th at this class and distance on November 24th when racing on pace and he can be close again. Up in class last start winners (9) DIXIE WINNER and (3) BORYEONGLIGHT QUEEN others who can measure up.

Seoul Race 5: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

Fillies only here. (2) GEUNYANG GARA struck through at start two over 1200M in a filly only maiden on November 23rd, racing handy early then striking the front in the straight and running on so score emphatically. She comes up in class but is down in weight, draws well, and the manner of that victory suggests there can be plenty more to come. (4) WONDERFUL SEEKING needs a line drawn through her latest when she got a long way back, but she was a winner at this class and distance as recently as October and while she is up 4kg from that day, it makes her a danger. (6) TAEPYEONGMU was also underwhelming last time out when showing on pace before fading. We'll go on her class and distance runner-up finish two starts back and give her another chance here. (3) YONGBISU and (11) GANGCHEOL YEOGEOL other contenders for the minors.

Busan Race 4: Class 4 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(8) SMART BOSS has a 2nd and a 3rd from his two starts so far, both over this distance and both in good times and the latter in the Listed Gyeongnam Do Min Ilbo Trophy for juveniles. Third-up he can be peaking fitness wise and with Seo Seung-un climbing on for the first time, he may take some beating. (10) DRAGON REVENGER beat Smart Falcon when winning on what was Smart Falcon's debut in October, leading all the way around. He ran 6th in the Do Min Ilbo and shapes as the main danger. (2) BLUE SKY has a 2nd, and a 4th from her latest two, both at this class and distance and nicely drawn and still under a light weight, she can be in the hunt. (1) TWOTWO FLYING and (4) CHEONHA GEONGANG others in the placing frame.

Seoul Race 6: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

(3) CHEONGUNG STORM got his maiden win at start two back at the end of August and then ran 4th having led on his first try at this class on November 9th. He draws very nicely to lead again, and this time will be favoured to go all the way. (1) SONGDANGMANGCHI debuted in March over this distance and duly ran out a winner. He went lame after that but came back into regular work at the start of this month and looked well when a close 2nd in a trial on December 10th, leading for much of the way. He draws well and can be in this a long way. (2) MISS CONCORD was a winner two starts back in an all-filly maiden before running 2nd on her first try at this class over 1300M on October 13th. She comes in fresh after ten weeks out and while up in the weights, she is well-drawn, and she can be a danger. The rest enter with very patchy form with (8) SCALE KING and (7) GHOST DRAGON perhaps the best place chances.

Busan Race 5: Class 3 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million

(5) YOUR TURN was a class and distance winner winner in October before taking her chance in the Listed Breeders' Cup Queen on November 24th. She didn't go well there but returns to more amenable company today and is the one to beat. (8) AJANTA beat three of these on his way to 3rd place at this class and distance on November 29th having won at a mile at class 4 level the time before. She remains out of the handicap so again carries a light weight and can challenge once more. (2) LEMON BULPAE won back-to-back races in July and September at 1400M and a mile and then finished 3rd, again over a mile, on October 20th. That brings him up in class here as well as up to two turns for the first time, but he comes down a full 6kg in the weights, he draws well, and he can be competitive. (10) VOLCANO GRIT and (3) FIRE MAGIC among other contenders in a strong race.

Seoul Race 7: Class 4 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(7) LONG RUN BULPAE led all the way to secure his second win on October 12th, fending off a determined late challenge. He then ran an excellent 4th n the Listed Gwacheon Mayor's Trophy on November 17th with only the three strong imported juveniles ahead of him. He comes in here under a light weight, Moon Se-young rides for the first time, and he is the one to beat. (8) TROT QUEEN enters off a 3rd place at class and distance on December 8th. It's fair to say that the veteran doesn't win out of turn but while she probably can't beat the favourite, this is the kind of race she has a good each-way chance in. (5) GIPPEUM HAMSEONG returns to action for the first time since June. He has won and placed from three starts at this distance and he looked well in a November trial. (9) GEOLJAK DREAM and (2) EINSPANNER other placing chances.

Busan Race 6: Class 2 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 90 Million

(1) YEONGGWANGUI ACE is a consistent type and enters off a fair 5th at this class over a mile on November 22nd when handy throughout. He is under a light weight here he draws nicely and Munro climbs on. A two-time winner at the distance, he has as good a chance as any. (11) POWER SOUND will need to have his latest forgiven over 1200M, but he has won three times at 1400M and was a close 2nd in a fast time two starts back ahead of three of today's rivals on what was his first try at class 2. Seo Sung-un knows him well and he will be disputing favourite status. (9) BIWOL returned from five months out to run a fair 5th at this class over 1200M on November 8th. He should strip fitter for the run and can get closer this time. (5) JEONGMUN COBIT races for the first time since he was an also-ran in a pair of Group races in the spring and summer. He is a winner at this class and looked well in a November trial. While he may need this, his quality can't be doubted. (12) GOLDEN PLUS, winner of that November 22nd race ahead of Yeonggwangui Ace is another in the frame.

Seoul Race 8: Class 4 (1700M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(5) MAGIC PRINCE has run 2nd in four of his lats five starts, including last time out on his first try at this class over 1800M on November 9th. He comes up 2kg in weight, but from a good draw he can sit behind the speed and today can be his day. Should he find one too quick again, it might be (1) K N TIZWON. He has only won once in twenty-seven attempts, but it was just two starts back and was at this class over 1800M, coming from well off the pace as is his style. He ran 4th from the same gate as today on his latest and coming back to a trip at which he has placed on five occasions, he can be a danger. (10) GOLDEN SNIPER won back-to-back races at this distance in October and then ran a fair 6th of ten on his first try at this class over 1800M on November 16th. Under a light weight he can be a place chance. (2) COMPLETE LEADER and (6) OSEONGUI BYEOL, the latter up in class, are others in the frame.

Seoul Race 9: Class 3 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million

(3) UMAPOY enters having been a beaten favourite in both his latest two at class and distance, most recently when an on-pace 2nd on November 23rd. He comes up in weight but draws well to lead and he gets another chance here. (8) DRAGON SQUARE is up in class having scored over 1700M on November 16th, leading all the way. That win had been coming and under a light weight, he can measure up in this company. (7) STORM BREAKER enters off a smart 2nd place at class and distance on November 10th, leading for most of the way. He comes up 2.5kg in the weights, but CC climbs up he should be in contention. (9) SEIRENE and (6) STILL PLAY, the other placing chances.

Seoul Race 10: Class 4 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(9) TAEKHAN led all the way to win at this class over 1400M on November 24th, beating three of today's rivals in the process. He comes up a full 4.5kg in the weights, and tackles the mile for the first time but in this company, he can win again and gate nine proved to be no probl;em last time. (6) BREEDO SIRIS has raced just three times, all of them at 1200M with his best being a 3rd place. He has shown very good late speed and the step up in trip can be in his favour. (7) CHOEGO GAME was well back behind Taekhan in that November 24th race, but he placed on his only previous try at a mile, and he can be given another chance here. (2) HAWK PRINCE and (4) DALGEUM among other placing hopes.

Seoul Race 11: Class 1 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 110 Million

This is a hybrid class 1/class 2 race for horses rated between 66 and 90. (4) CROWN HAMSEONG is a winner of six from nine so far with her latest being an all the way win in a tight finish on her first try at this distance on November 16th. Aside from her debut her only defeats have come in filly and mare Group company and behind the outstanding Vincero Cavallo and drawn well and under a light weight, she will take some beating here. (1) RAON THE POINT hasn't really kicked on since winning the G3 Busan Ilbo Sprint in March, but he looks nicely in here under an apprentice claim and he has won over a mile already. (6) LUCKY WORLD comes in having scored at class 2 over 1400M a month ago. The veteran is down in the weights and can be competitive again. (10) MY CENTER and (7) SKY MANGCHI are the other chances.